They have waited long enough

Tickets £16 // Concession £12 // Under 30 £5
Advance booking required

Nemeth Quartet:
Gülen Ege Serter violin
Şeniz Serter violin
Pınar Basalak viola
Mutlu Varlık Kocaili cello 

Katharine Dain soprano
Raphaëla Danksagmüller duduk / kaval
Elif Canfezâ Gündüz kemenche
Esra Berkman qanun

Concept by Tamar Brüggemann, Wonderfeel

They have waited long enough (2023) 50’ UK Premiere

Compositions by:

Aida Shirazi (Iran, 1987)
My Words are Swallows

Kate Moore (Australia/Netherlands, 1979)
Suat Derviş

Meriç Artaç (Turkey, 1990)
Şahmaran

Ece Temelkuran (Turkey, 1973)
libretti

How do we listen to old stories today? Who tells them? From what point of view? And what if we hear them told by someone else? In They have waited long enough, this change of perspective is the focus of a long-term musical project.

In the 2023 cycle, Turkish writer Ece Temelkuran gives voice to three women: the mythical Şahmaran, half-serpent, half-human and a symbol of female (and nonbinary) power; Kassia, born around 805 in Constantinople and the only female composer in Byzantine church music; and Suat Derviş, who, as an author and left-wing activist, always remained unflinchingly herself. Scored by Meriç Artaç, Aida Shirazi and Kate Moore, their song is presented by soprano Katharine Dain and a colourful ensemble.

What will they tell us, given a voice of their own?

Co-produced by Wonderfeel, Istanbul Music Festival and hcmf// supported by the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists and Fonds Podiumkunsten

Photo: © Onur Çakın